Genesis


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Genesis In the Beginning

Approaching Genesis •

Who wrote Genesis?



When was Genesis written?



What kind of literature is Genesis?



What is the content of Genesis?



What are the theological themes in Genesis?

Approaching Genesis •

Who wrote Genesis?



For over two thousand years, Genesis was viewed as “the First Book of Moses.”



The other parts of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the OT) clearly had Mosaic origins (e.g. Lev 1:1; Num 33:2; Deut 31:9, 24); the presumption was that Genesis was a kind of prologue to the life of Moses



In addition, Jesus attributed the Pentateuch to Moses (John 5:46; Mark 7:10)

Approaching Genesis •

Who wrote Genesis?



Starting in the late 18th century, that consensus was challenged by critical scholars, who tried to figure out the “sources” of the Pentateuch.





They suggested a later date for the Pentateuch (as late as 6th century BC) through a “redactor” who edited the sources into a single whole.

In addition, there were questions raised about certain sections, which couldn’t have been written by Moses (e.g. Deut 34; also Num 12:3).

Approaching Genesis •

Who wrote Genesis?



It seems best to say that Moses produced much/most of the material that is found in Genesis (and the other books of the Pentateuch); this is called “an essentially Mosaic authorship”



It also seems right to recognize that, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Moses used written and oral sources in putting his narrative together (e.g. Num 21:14 “the Book of the Wars of the Lord”; Exo 24:7 “the Book of the Covenant”).



However, the use of sources doesn’t compromise our understanding of the verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible and by extension of Genesis.

Approaching Genesis •

When was Genesis written?



The events set in Genesis fit in with what we would know from the second millennium BC (between 2000-1600 BC).



Moses’ own dates are somewhat contested, based on whether one favors an “early” or a “later” date for the Exodus (early=1446 BC; later=1260 BC).



Regardless of where you put Moses’ dates, the composition of Genesis occurred at least a couple of hundred years after Joseph died in Genesis 50.

Approaching Genesis •

What kind of literature is Genesis?



Genesis presents itself as a historical narrative with a clear theological purpose.







This is the case for both the primeval (chaps 1-11) and patriarchal sections (chaps 12-50).

The markers of historical narrative include:



The repeated use of “these are the generations of” (11 times: 2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, 11:10, 11:27, 25:12, 25:19, 36:1,9, 37:2).



The use of genealogy (5, 10, 11, 25, 46).



The place names which are historically verifiable

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t literary art involved in the various sections or that OT history shares the same conventions with our own approach to history.

Genesis: Content •

Primeval history: creation and fall (1-11)



Creation (1-2)



What similarities or differences are there between the biblical creation account and other accounts then current (i.e. Enuma Elish)?



Difference about God: monotheistic, selfexistent and self-sufficient, sovereign, transcendent, yet immanent



Difference about humans: dignity and dominion



Difference about the world: spoken out of nothing; purposeful flourishing

Genesis: Content •

Primeval history: creation and fall (1-11)



Fall and its effects (3-11)





“You shall surely die”



Hatred and death (4)



Drumbeat of death (5)



Judgment and death for all (6-9)



Rebellion and judgment (11)

“The offspring of the woman”



Garments of skin (3:21)



Seth, Enosh, Calling Upon the Lord (4:26)



Election, covenant, sign (6:8, 8:20-9:17)

Genesis: Content •

Patriarchal history: redemption (12-50)



Abraham (12-25)



Three-fold reiteration of the Abraham covenant (12, 15, 17-18):



Great name: nation/offspring



Land



Blessings to all the families of the earth



The significance of Genesis 15



The interplay between promise given and disobedience



The “fulfillment” of promise and final obedience

Genesis: Content •

Patriarchal history: redemption (12-50)





Isaac/Jacob (26-36)



For all his importance as the child of promise, Isaac is transitional (but see 26:1-5).



Jacob receives the same promises as Abraham and Isaac (28:10-17)—his wrestling with God and his sons will carry out his legacy (32, 49).

Joseph/Judah (37-50)



Joseph and Judah are clearly the key players in this cycle—important for Israel’s later history.



These scenes spell out how Abraham’s family gets to Egypt (cf. 15:13), but also ends with a promise of return (50:25-26).

Genesis: Theology •

Creation



Fall



Redemption (Gen 3:15) •

Election



Covenant



Sign